Silence of my home

Growing up, my house did not know the meaning of silence. 2 studious girls who did their daily lessons by reading loudly. 2 hyperactive boys who always had to play football or watch cartoon. Not to forget, the cat and dog fights for everything from the TV remote to the Nutella bottle.

However hard my mom tried, it was dearly impossible to wind up for the day before 11 PM. There was one or the other chatter – Crying sessions because the home work assignment was not completed (this was usually me!) or screaming at the other for breaking a favourite toy (usually the boys) or being on the telephone non-stop (my elder sister). There were toys strewn everywhere, the school books were not kept in order and the shoes were never on the rack. Looking back at it now, I wonder how did my parents have the patience to tolerate so much of noise !

Fast-forward 20 years later, the elder sister is married and away, the younger brother is doing his undergraduate studies in India, the youngest is at University hostel in the city. I happen to be the only one currently with my parents. (I too shall move away soon, insha’Allah)

Now my house observes only SILENCE.

There is silence in the morning after dad leaves for work. The afternoon lunch is a silent affair. Tea and snacks in the evening is not so necessary as how when we were children (Back then if there were no snacks for tea – another drama was certain!) Dinner is over by 8 PM and other than me wandering the house for midnight snacks, all is quiet, calm and done for the day.

Every family has not only its noisy days – non stop crying baby days, non stop sibling-fighting days, exam stress days, holiday excitement days, but also its days of silence – the silence after the brides leaves her home, silence when the son goes abroad for his Master’s, silence when the youngest leaves for hostel. Silence after a good bye. Silence after the ‘Salaam’. Silence after the hug.

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3 weeks agoby dr_shahiraIt took me 7 months to finally feel 'back-to-normal' - after all the allergy/appointment/India trip and health, career issues. Alhamdulilah. I frankly feel it was my toddler who bore the brunt of all the changes. So trying to make it up to her and overcome my 'mom-guilt'. ...for now, its all about - beach, playing, park, beach cycling, colouring, painting and some more beach. The current doha weather is perfect for the beach! For mom's of two and more- when did you start feeling normal/back to old routine after the transition? #alkhor

4 months agoby dr_shahiraRegular Indian floor mats for the win - since they are big so baby can roll as much as they want. . Day naps are so hard of late which means absolutely nothing gets done around the house. Just sit with baby + toddler and photograph baby from all angles. (toddler doesn't sit still for a photograph anymore) . To all the new people around here - Hello and how are you doing? Happy weekend!

5 months agoby dr_shahira' I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle' - Van Gogh Guess what she is excitedly looking at ?! :D (more in stories) Featuring the @bumpadum Neo Newborn CD - a very cute and functional investment for newborns. (Collab)

5 months agoby dr_shahiraKerala - a state in South India - is reeling from one of the worst floods in its history. Heavy rains continue until at least next 48 hours. 33 out of 39 dams have been opened. Rivers are overflowing. Death numbers are increasing. My heart aches. Please keep our people in your duas. Ya Allah, protect our land from the trials with water. Please get in touch with your local Indian community and donate in any form or manner you can. (Have shared a few donation links in stories) . (Picture shared) #KeralaFloods

6 months agoby dr_shahiraAll through my first pregnancy, I read about the different phases and aspects of pregnancy. Mainly on apps and online articles. Baby centre app was my favourite. I did not read a thing about labour and delivery itself - out of fear mostly. So as soon as I got to know about my second pregnancy, I went on a reading spree. This time I went back to books and journals instead of apps and online articles. I read mainly about labour, the different stages, delivery, all the interventions usually done in a hospital setting - the pros and cons. About cascade of interventions. The right nutrition, diet and exercise needed during pregnancy. About pain management and how to relax myself during that vulnerable period. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongan were my favourite books. Towards the end, I used to carry this small pouch* wherever I went. I wanted these little tidbits with me when I went into labour. Including my birth plan and affirmation cards (available on blog) Well, Fun fact 1 - Al Khor Hospital doesn't allow anything in the labour room. Not even a mobile phone Fun fact 2 - I escaped from

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